The oil supply delivered from Russia through the Friendship pipeline via
Belarus to Slovakia and the Czech Republic stopped yesterday evening due to a
price dispute between Russia and Belarus.
The stoppage occurred at around 08:00 p.m. (1800 GMT), Slovakia's transpetrol
company Stefan Czucz said.
Kristina Felova, a spokeswoman of Slovak oil company Slovnaft, said that the
stoppage of oil from Russia will not affect Slovakia's oil supply and the
company will guarantee the domestic supply of oil.
Slovakia has stockpiles of crude and fuel sufficient to cover demand for 70
days.
On the same day, the Czech industry ministry said that the Czech Republic
will not be jeopardized by the disruption, which also happened in the country.
The Czech government has already prepared for the current situation, Industry
Minister Martina Rimana said.
Czech has 102 days of national oil reserves.
The pipeline carries 90 percent of Slovakia's and 70 percent of the Czech
Republic's crude oil demand.
Deliveries through the pipeline from Russia to some other European countries
were also halted on Monday in the wake of the price dispute between Russia and
Belarus.